I Got Numbers ! Burned Oil Last 30 Days .. Cost Analysis

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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 11:40 am

I not heated my house with any oil in about 9 yrs .... the normal leaks upon startup were corrected and results are in...

OK, I shut my stove down in Jan to burn oil .. filled up tank @ 1.48/gal prior to test.

Burned for 30 days .. refilled tank at $1.52/gal on 20 FEB 16 .... 199 gal used, $302

Coal I purchased in SEP costs $290 / ton. I have about seven tons.

I would think that I would have burned about a ton or 1 -1/4 tons.

So on low end, broke even .. on high end, saved about $75 on heating costs.

Today's spot price is $1.52/gal on oil. Is going up or down? If it goes up to $1.62 / gal ... I'll be firing the stove back up.


 
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SWPaDon
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Post by SWPaDon » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 2:15 pm

What were your heating degree days for that time period, and have you tested your coal stove on a heating degree analysis spreadsheet?

If you haven't your numbers for the past 30 days are pretty much meaningless.

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 3:09 pm

SWPaDon wrote:What were your heating degree days for that time period, and have you tested your coal stove on a heating degree analysis spreadsheet?

If you haven't your numbers for the past 30 days are pretty much meaningless.
What were your heating degree days for that time period: 6 girth units.

Of course its impossible to do a perfect side by side comparison (unless I built a replica and ran coal in one and oil in the other).

Going by experience is all. Others may post their experience ... I know some have switched.

 
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Scottscoaled
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Post by Scottscoaled » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 3:52 pm

Hey! That's swell you decided to switch to oil! More for us and there is no reason for you to stay :)

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 4:37 pm

Scottscoaled wrote:Hey! That's swell you decided to switch to oil! More for us and there is no reason for you to stay :)
There's another on my ignore list ...

 
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Lightning
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Post by Lightning » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 4:48 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote: I would think that I would have burned about a ton or 1 -1/4 tons.
I have to agree with Don. Guessing what you might have used in coal for that time period throws the whole thing right down the :flush:

 
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Scottscoaled
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Post by Scottscoaled » Mon. Feb. 29, 2016 4:49 pm

Hahaha! You remind me of the guy in the movie,,,,,, "i'm writing your name down. Putting you on my list" Hahaha! :D :D


 
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D-frost
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Post by D-frost » Tue. Mar. 01, 2016 8:46 am

David,
Thanks for the numbers. Me, myself, and I, being a 'conservative Yankee', have calculated that oil needs to be $1.50/gal, for my break even point, with coal at $300/ton. I installed the Yukon Eagle multi fuel, hot air furnace in 2005. I'm half full, on my 3rd tank of oil(275 gal). We're looking at $1.69/gal. for oil in southern N.H., so, we wait a little longer. Now it's time for another coffee, thank you.
Cheers

 
Paulie
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Post by Paulie » Tue. Mar. 01, 2016 12:19 pm

Cheap oil and gas close to coal cost. Toss in hyper high tech super efficient gas equip, and gas would
get the nod. Having multi fuel capability is a bonus. Break a leg and hauling coal and ashes around
not possible. I use coal and gas. This winter, used gas more often than not. Having said that, give up
my coal systems ? No, not a chance !

 
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Post by HillStreet » Tue. Mar. 01, 2016 8:52 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote:I not heated my house with any oil in about 9 yrs .... the normal leaks upon startup were corrected and results are in...

OK, I shut my stove down in Jan to burn oil .. filled up tank @ 1.48/gal prior to test.

Burned for 30 days .. refilled tank at $1.52/gal on 20 FEB 16 .... 199 gal used, $302

Coal I purchased in SEP costs $290 / ton. I have about seven tons.

I would think that I would have burned about a ton or 1 -1/4 tons.

So on low end, broke even .. on high end, saved about $75 on heating costs.

Today's spot price is $1.52/gal on oil. Is going up or down? If it goes up to $1.62 / gal ... I'll be firing the stove back up.
http://www.alternateheatingsystems.com/support/compare-fuels.html
Check out this link, has a cost comparison chart that is easy to read.

 
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davidmcbeth3
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Post by davidmcbeth3 » Tue. Mar. 01, 2016 9:23 pm

Nice chart Hill ...

 
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D-frost
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Post by D-frost » Wed. Mar. 02, 2016 12:38 pm

Wow, a chart!!!!
David, sorry you went to all that extra effort. Oh well, slow, mild Winter. Nothin' better to do.
Cheers

 
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theo
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Post by theo » Thu. Mar. 03, 2016 2:30 pm

Oil, Cold house and basement,,,,,, Mean Wife ,,,, Coal, Warm house and basement = very happy wife,,,,, worth the extra effort for me!!!! :D :D :roll: :P

 
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coal stoker
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Post by coal stoker » Fri. Mar. 04, 2016 6:33 pm

Amen Theo
I agree :D :D
CS

 
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Post by CoaldHeat » Tue. Mar. 08, 2016 7:56 am

Another thing to consider David, is my home is way warmer with coal burning than it would be if I heated with oil. When I heat with oil my thermostat is set at 68 degrees, with coal it is at least that in every room with the main living areas being 70 -75 degrees (living room, kitchen, dining room, 2400+ sq. ft.). During the time frame you listed I burned less than 1 ton of coal (unless it was started on Jan. 1st, then it would be close to 1 ton). interesting test David, but I think for me, oil would have to be about $1.00/gal before I would consider it. Being able to warm up next to the stove when you come in from outside, or just being more comfortable overall with the extra heat makes it worth it for me.


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